Ankle-brace



Iss

nrTnn STATES PATENT Trice.

JOHN WVM. FRERIOH AND JOSEPH I-I. FRERIOH, OF ALVORD, IOWA.

ANKLE- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 609,538, dated August 23, 1898. Application iilecl October 80, 1897. Serial No. 656,955. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOI-1N WM. FRERICH and JOSEPH H. FRERICH, citizens of the United States, residing at Alvord, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Ankle-Brace, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to ankle-braces more especially designed for use withvskates, although it may be advantageously used with an ordinary shoe, if desired; and the invention consists of the several novel details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a skate with our improved ankle-brace in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, to show the manner of attaching the brace to the skate.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in both iigures.

1 indicates a skate which is of the ordinary clamp pattern, and 2 indicates the sliding clamping-plate for the heel.

3 is the cam-locking lever, which is pivoted on a pin 4E, secured in the forward end of the plate 2. Y

The ankle-brace consists of a pair of rods 5, bent to substantially U shape, adivided legband 6, to which the upper ends of the rods are pivotally connected, and securing-straps 7, loosely connected to the leg-band. The loop portions of the rods 5 are secured side by side in a looped clip 8, which is pivoted on the pin 4- above the sliding plate 2, on which latter it is supported, and the brace is thus free to turn on a vertical axis relative to the skate. The vertical portions of the rods 5 extend side by side parallel-to each other for a short distance above the clip 8 on each side, as indicated at 9, and they are then re` leg-band on their outer faces by means of rivets 12 or similar fastening devices. The `leg-band is thus adapted to turn on a horizontal axis relatively to the rods 5 and the 55 entire brace to turn on a horizontal axis, as `well as on a vertical axis, relatively to the skate.

l The leg-band is divided on a vertical plane at its rear end", as indicated at 13, and each 6o section has a series ofloops 14 formed in it, through which the securing-straps '7 extend, and it is obvious that each section of the leg.- band can move on the straps independently of the other section, and thus adapt the legband for use on legs of dierent sizes and also permit the elliptical loops 10 to keep the proper position to fit around the ankles of the wearer. y

In the event it is desired to use the brace 7o .with an ordinary shoe the clip 8 will be pivoted on the sole of the shoe just in advance of the heel, as will be readily understood..

4 From the foregoing description it will be seen that the leg-band is free to turn on a horizontal axis relative to the rods, and that the latter are so connected to the skate or shoe,` as the case may be, that the entire brace is free to turn on ahorizontal or vertical axis, 'and the brace will thus permit 8o every natural movement ofthe foot and at the saine time eifectually prevent the foot from turning under sidewise in either direction.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what 9o We claim is- 1. The combination with a skate or shoe, of an ankle-brace comprising a pair of U -shaped rods, means forpivotally attaching said U- shaped rods to the skate or shoe to turn on a horizontal axis and said rods bowed in opposite directions to form spaces for the reception of the ankle, a leg-band pivoted to the upper ends of the rods on a horizontal axis,

and means to secure the band on a leg, subroo stantially as described.

2. The combination with a skate, a shoe, of

an ankle-brace comprising a pair of U -shaped rods, means for attaching said brace-rods to a skate or shoe to turn on a horizontal axis, a two-part leg-band to which the brace-rods are respectively pivoted on horizontal axes, and securing-straps on which the two-part legband is slidably fitted, substantially as described.

3. The combination With a skate, a shoe, of a clip attached to said skate or shoe, a pair of U-shaped rods pivotally connected to the clip on a horizontal axis, said rods extending upon each side of the foot and being bent or bowed in opposite directions to'form spaces for the reception of the ankle, a leg-band to which the upper ends of the rods are pivoted on a horizontal axis, said leg-band being formed in two sections, and securing-straps loosely connected to the leg-band, substantially as described.

4:. An ankle-brace comprising a pair of U- shaped rods which are bowed laterally toprovide spaces for the reception of the wearers ankles, means for pivotally attaching the lower looped end of said brace-rods to a skate or shoe, a leg-band pivoted to the upper ends of the rods, and attaching-straps connected to said leg-band, substantially as described.

5. An ankle-brace comprising brace-rods looped at their lower ends, a clip fitted to the looped ends of the brace-rods and having means for attachment to a skate or shoe, a leg-band pivoted to the brace-rods to turn on a horizontal axis, and fastening-straps attached to the leg-band, substantially as described.

6. The combination with an ankle-brace, of a two-part leg-band having its sections pivoted independently to the upper ends of said ankle-brace to turn on horizontal axes, and fastening-straps slidably fitted to the members of said leg-band, substantially as dcscribed.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN `W`M. FRERICH. JOSEPH I-I. FRERICH.

Vitnesses:

W. P. PAGE, P. A. SoHNnoKLoTH. 

